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From our fabulous News Hawks!

Have you seen a TG-related news story online or in your local paper? Send it in to TGF and become a News Hawk! Don't assume we know everything that's out there, because you are our eyes and ears. To file a story, send it in to Cindy.

British T* Lose in EuroCourt

Contributed by Rachelle Austin, Peter, and Sabrina
via NewsPlanet
July 30, 1998

The European Court of Human Rights' surprising ruling says that the inability of British transsexuals to change their birth certificates is a mere "inconvenience."

In a stunning defeat for British transsexuals, the European Court of Human Rights ruled July 30 that the U.K. can remain the last member of the European Union to refuse to issue new birth certificates following sex reassignment surgery. The Court's decision reversed a 15 - 1 finding in March 1997 by the European Commission on Human Rights in favor of the two plaintiffs, Kristina Sheffield and Rosa Horsham. The two had argued that the lack of new birth certificates violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights by interfering with their privacy and family life; neither can legally marry in Britain. However, they say that three other similar cases have been approved for consideration by the Commission, and the current ruling included a caution that increasing social acceptance of transsexualism indicates that nations which are signatories to the Convention must keep its legal aspects under review.

The EuroCourt found that nations may restrict marriage to a union between a man and a woman "of biological origin" and deemed the forced revelation of transsexual status represented by the birth certificates to be an "inconvenience" rather than a denial of privacy rights. By contrast, the Commission had found that the UK's insistence on maintaining as an historical record existing birth records based on "biological indicators" to be unjustified socially, medically and scientifically.

Both Sheffield and Horsham underwent reassignment surgery in 1986. Sheffield's wife divorced her and obtained a court order to prevent any contact with their child. The decorated Royal Air Force veteran with more than 30 years' experience as a pilot also lost her job and has not been able to find work as a pilot since, although earlier this year she won a ruling of hiring discrimination from a British industrial tribunal. Horsham feels she's been living "in exile" in Holland, where she can legally marry her male partner, but is concerned that that marriage would not be recognized if she returned to the U.K.

Michael or Michelle? Top U.S. Names Revealed

Contributed by Jamie Faye Fenton
via BTL News
July 31, 1998

The U.S. Social Security Administration has established a web site listing the most popular given names in America from 1960 to 1997. Emily and Hannah are in, Susan, out.

To find out where your name is, you can visit the SSA web site at http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/NOTES/note139/topten3.html

Actors Sought For Brandon Teena Movie

July 31, 1998

In October, Kimberly Peirce will be directing an independent feature film currently entitled "Take It Like A Man" inspired by the Brandon Teena story.

We are casting the role of "Lewis," (the Brandon Teena inspired part). We need a charismatic, charming, funny and handsome girl who looks 19-22 years old and can pull off the role of a girl who lived and loved as a man.

We appreciate all of the help we've gotten over the past couple of years, and now are asking for any names, numbers or ideas of people who may be right for this part.

If you could help us in any way--by mentioning the project to your friends, hanging up a poster, or, if you're a performer, making a submission--we'd be really grateful.

Our production office number is 212-473-3950, and our e-mail is jlix@aol.com. If you or someone you know would be right for the part, please call us. We will send you script pages which can use to make a videotape.

Male Panty Lines

Contributed by Sharon Marie
via NY Daily News
July 30, 1998

NEW YORK- Last summer, you may have noticed that New York women added visible panty line to their style repertoire, purposefully sporting dark briefs under thin, tight and light pants. Really, there was no where to look but down.

Now, boys can do it too! Fruit of the Loom and BVD are introducing "High Fashion" lines, which means guys shopping at Kmart and Cosco where, to be honest, most of us buy our undies, will now be able to buy theirs in all manner of cuts from low-rise to ribbed bikini to referee stripe. We have no idea what the latter is, and frankly the nice man at Fruit of the Loom, marketing manager Michael Jindrich, had trouble explaining. "You want me to be explicit?" he sighed, and then wasn't.

At any rate. the underwear company is bringing daring brief fashions in intense colors to the masses (three-packs will average $7.99). Some of these briefs look just like panties with their crinkly elastic waistband and leg holes and noticeable lack of, uh, that opening that's, uh. usually in the front. Why this radical departure? "Well," says Jindrich "we're trying to get male customers to think outside of his boxers." Good luck, Michael. As if women haven't been trying to do that for ages.

Bowie Starts ISP

Contributed by Elizabeth Parker
via Reuters
July 30, 1998

David Bowie is launching his own Internet service provider in September at a cost to the consumer of $19.95 a month. BowieNet, at www.davidbowie.com, will offer high-speed Internet service across North America and will expand internationally later in the year. It will also offer e-mail service and special music and entertainment access. "I wanted to create an environment where not just my fans but all music lovers could be a part of the same community -- a single place where the vast archives of music information could be accessed, views stated and ideas exchanged," Bowie said.

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